building strong digital libraries

Building Strong Digital Libraries

Sarah Houghton-JanDigital Futures Manager, San Jose Public LibraryAuthor of LibrarianInBlack.net

times are tough

5 Things We Can Do Right Now

1) Find out user needs

2) Use free technologies to save money

3) Plan projects effectively

4) Assess projects thoughtfully

5) Market our services the right way

#1: Find out user needs

“Understanding local patron culture is essential to

creating used and useful technology services.” -

Char Booth

Taking the Ass out of

Assumption (Char Booth): slideshare.net/charbooth/local-user-research-taking-the-ass-

out-of-assumption

Taking the Ass out of Assumption (Char Booth): slideshare.net/charbooth/local-user-research-taking-the-ass-out-of-assumption

Listen to your users.

It really is as simple as that.

#2: Use the social web

The Social Web Reach out to users in their own space

Let them choose to come to you, to add you to this part of their lives

Ask your users what sites they use

Social Review Websites

CitySearch InsiderPages JudysBook Yelp Local2Me

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronschmidt/217887378 7/#comment72157603674521448

LOVE, BABY, LOVE!

and then there are weird social networks…

Social Networking Guidelines

SJPL has a set of Social Media GuidelinesPersonal Social Media Participation

Site Set-Up, Management, and Profile Standards

Online Posting Guidelines for Users

Additional Posting Guidelines for Staff

General Social Media Best Practices

Notifications and Comments

Statistics and Publicity

Evaluating Additional New Technologies

+ specific guidelines for each site

Social Networking TipsFacebook, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace, Ning, etc.

Profiles vs. Pages

Broadcasts vs. Conversations

Best practices – who posts what when?

Setting Up a Social Network

Username Check: CheckUsernames.com

Usernames Claim/Log-In: Open ID and ClaimID

Maintaining a Social Network

Update Syncing: Ping.fm or Hellotxt.com, Facebook’s Twitter app (can’t sync pages!)

Multiple Account Management: Seesmic, HootSuite, other apps

Metrics for Social Networks

Social Network Monitoring: Filtrbox, MyBUZZmonitor, TwitterSearch

Stats: Twitter Analyzer, Twitter Counter, built-in Facebook page stats (weekly email)

Online Book Displays

Westmont Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/

Location-Based Social Sites

Entries for libraries, trips, tips, contests

Historical walking tours (Wolf Walk)

#3: Plan projects effectively

Sarah's Awesome 10 Step Project Plans

1. Background2. Aims & Objectives3. Overall Approach4. Project Outputs5. Technology Requirements & Impact6. Training7. Project Management8. Marketing9. Budget10. Evaluation Plan

BaseCamp

Staff Training

Part of training is information.

Provide staff exposure at least 1 month before soft launch

Offer staff formal training in that time

- Play with it, touch it, and learn it.

- Fun. Rewards. Food.

- Types and numbers of trainings

Getting Staff Buy-In

Inform early and constantly.

Ask for & use input.

Demand consistent managerial support.

Soft Launches

Beta test everything!

1. Launch the new service for a small group of staff first (to find big bugs).

2. Launch for entire staff (and ask for feedback, problems, suggestions).

3. Launch for users (without “hard” promotion and ask for feedback).

4. Do a hard launch and promote.

#4: Assess projects thoughtfully

Evaluating New Services

Survey users and staff 6 months in: Would you recommend this service to a friend? Why or why not?

Evaluate the library's follow-through: Has adequate marketing and training been done?

Evaluate statistics: How much staff time is being used?How much is the service used?

Project Evaluation Plan

Results of Evaluation

Continue service

or

Discontinue service

or

Extend pilot

and - change aspects of the service - do more promotion or training

Discontinuing a service is not failing.

Persisting in a failed effort is failing.

#5: Market our services

thoughtfully

Marketing ≠ Bookmarks

Raising Awareness

PR in our physical presence

PR in our online presence

F2F World Marketing Ideas Open communication & discussion

in the library outside the library

Outreach to partners & community groups Word of mouth Dynamic physical marketing

LCD screens in-library or in the community Flyers, posters, geocaching in the

community

Online Marketing Ideas Have a good URL Updates & flyers on Facebook & Twitter Short promotions on receipt printers, email

alerts, newsletters, catalog, website banners Ensure search engine findability Events websites (Eventful, Going, Upcoming) Get links from partners Create spaces w/ tips/tours in location-sites

(Foursquare, Gowalla)

$10 = 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted audiences

Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/1546577200

Twitter ads next?

Rejoice in failures...for failing indicates that you

have encountered a boundary that needs testing.

Questions?

Sarah Houghton-Janweb: LibrarianInBlack.net

email: [email protected]

IM: LibrarianInBlack

Twitter: twitter.com/TheLiB

Skype: LibrarianInBlack

Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack